# How can a psyker survive from havoc 40 if FS nerf smite and inferno staff? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [October 19, 2025, 7:18pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/how-can-a-psyker-survive-from-havoc-40-if-fs-nerf-smite-and-inferno-staff/113741 "2025-10-19T19:18:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Enforest](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forums.fatsharkgames.com/enforest/32/73699_2.png) [@Enforest](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/Enforest)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 7:21am UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/how-can-a-psyker-survive-from-havoc-40-if-fs-nerf-smite-and-inferno-staff/113741/41 "2025-10-22T07:21:06Z")
> [@Margeret-Dayhoff](#): > > The charged force greatsword shockwave attack has infinite cleave and will destroy waves of mobs including many elites if tossed at max DD and Scriers stacks. It’s all about timing and keeping stacks high. And while the sword itself has decent cleave, it’s also the ability to deal giant 1-nuke numbers on crushers and bulwarks which you can often 1shot with a well-placed heavy-stab to the head. Interesting, I never saw that much damage with FGS special to reach reliable breakpoints on H40 against elites. He is clearly using soul blaze though, but overall since the match was a failure (Ogryn was pretty useless tbh as far as I see) don’t see it as some sort of landmark performance. Maybe a decent alternative to a DPS Zealot with a dedicated team comp, especially with a Taunt Ogryn, but one meta psyker is just better. Also may I ask why the directional shield instead of the bubble? It’s just so bad. ---
**Author:** ![Margeret-Dayhoff](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forums.fatsharkgames.com/margeret-dayhoff/32/92972_2.png) [@Margeret-Dayhoff](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/Margeret-Dayhoff)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 7:24am UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/how-can-a-psyker-survive-from-havoc-40-if-fs-nerf-smite-and-inferno-staff/113741/42 "2025-10-22T07:24:06Z")
> [@Enforest](#): > > Also may I ask why the directional shield instead of the bubble? It’s just so bad. I wanted to try it. I agree bubble is usually vastly superior, but the ability to stop charging muties, jumping dogs, or pox bursters, can still be quite useful. ---
**Author:** ![Enforest](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forums.fatsharkgames.com/enforest/32/73699_2.png) [@Enforest](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/Enforest)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 7:25am UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/how-can-a-psyker-survive-from-havoc-40-if-fs-nerf-smite-and-inferno-staff/113741/43 "2025-10-22T07:25:43Z")
> [@Margeret-Dayhoff](#): > > I spend most of my time doing primary fire to keep maulers and ragers at bay and to maximize Empyric Shock on the targets (knowing this will also help his FGS special attacks). Does it actually help more than it hurts? I have a strong feeling it doesn’t, but too lazy to do the math. ---
**Author:** ![Margeret-Dayhoff](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forums.fatsharkgames.com/margeret-dayhoff/32/92972_2.png) [@Margeret-Dayhoff](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/Margeret-Dayhoff)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 7:54am UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/how-can-a-psyker-survive-from-havoc-40-if-fs-nerf-smite-and-inferno-staff/113741/44 "2025-10-22T07:54:37Z")
DPS wise it helps him, not me. I’m certain it’s lower dps for myself. However the mauler/rager stagger from primary spam is supposed to help keep us alive. It’s definitely not an ideal test to run two psykers in the same game to compare their dps as there are issues of synergy and competion you won’t see in a game with just one psyker. Nevertheless it’s clear you can do a ton of dmg as FGS. I might try and find a group later and play melee to get a better idea of the numbers. ---
**Author:** ![NobleCactus](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forums.fatsharkgames.com/noblecactus/32/21722_2.png) [@NobleCactus](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/NobleCactus)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 8:02am UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/how-can-a-psyker-survive-from-havoc-40-if-fs-nerf-smite-and-inferno-staff/113741/45 "2025-10-22T08:02:40Z")
Short answer: You become Zealot and are invited to Havoc groups only for your bubble Long answer: Inferno staff gives Psyker the niche of strongest horde clear in the game due to the flame cloud ignoring enemy mass and target limits, but nerfing it wouldn’t be the end of the world. Smite is also rather niche and comes with drawbacks (mainly not being able to do constant damage while channeling and the fact that its increasing target limit takes a while to ramp up. Voidblast feels much better at clearing hordes with a Soulblaze build while still providing ample crowd control. Force Greatsword builds with Shriek or Scrier’s Gaze are also very powerful in Havoc right now, even in H40. What would really hurt Psyker is if Soulblaze itself is nerfed. Soulblaze is very powerful in Havoc because targets have enough health and are numerous enough for Soulblaze to stack (Soulblaze’s damage increases exponentially with multiple stacks on the target). The sheer number of elites mixed into Havoc hordes also means Perilous Combustion performs very well in Havoc. Wildfire also helps ‘prime’ targets for increased Soulblaze stacks before you even see them. It also lets you prime specials and elites for Kinetic Flayer procs without them even being in the same room. All of the builds I mentioned above rely on Soulblaze to deal damage, either for clearing hordes or as a vector for Kinetic Flayer procs. If Soulblaze itself is nerfed, then the other staves and blessings should at least be brought up to par. ---
**Author:** ![harlekein](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forums.fatsharkgames.com/harlekein/32/90957_2.png) [@harlekein](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/harlekein)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 8:13am UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/how-can-a-psyker-survive-from-havoc-40-if-fs-nerf-smite-and-inferno-staff/113741/46 "2025-10-22T08:13:00Z")
> [@Sunmelt](#): > > he still use inferno staff nor melee-only. Goalposts moved. ---
**Author:** ![Margeret-Dayhoff](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forums.fatsharkgames.com/margeret-dayhoff/32/92972_2.png) [@Margeret-Dayhoff](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/Margeret-Dayhoff)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 9:28am UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/how-can-a-psyker-survive-from-havoc-40-if-fs-nerf-smite-and-inferno-staff/113741/47 "2025-10-22T09:28:29Z")
> [@NobleCactus](#): > > Short answer: You become Zealot and are invited to Havoc groups only for your bubble True, and this imo is why I think it’s actually bubble that needs a nerf. The bubble is so strong and provides such incredible utility to the team it actively works to the detriment of build variety for psyker. Everyone expects you to have it at high level havocs because it trivializes so many aspects that would otherwise be major threats, such as BoN vomit, flamers, and bombers. It also to some extent conteracts the damage from tox bombers. If there was no bubble, or it merely reduced ranged dmg instead of preventing it entirely, and it didn’t have toughness regen while inside of it, psykers (and everyone else who relies on there being a bubble) would be forced to get better at positional play, which would also help them hone their melee skills. I also think the void-staves and electrokinetic staff needs some love. They are considerably more difficult to use effectively, where inferno is just such a cakewalk with it’s primary stagger spam if you get surrounded. ---
**Author:** ![Ashrad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Ashrad](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/Ashrad)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 9:45am UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/how-can-a-psyker-survive-from-havoc-40-if-fs-nerf-smite-and-inferno-staff/113741/48 "2025-10-22T09:45:06Z")
> [@Margeret-Dayhoff](#): > > I also think the void-staves and electrokinetic staff needs some love. They are considerably more difficult to use effectively, where inferno is just such a cakewalk with it’s primary stagger spam if you get surrounded. Electrokinetic maybe, but Voidstrike? It’s like a baby plasma gun that doesn’t have to care about ammo, what more does it need? I think the POV on balance will be pretty skewed if you compare anything to current Inferno staff tbh. ---
**Author:** ![ramrod\_ikarus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9de0a6/32.png) [@ramrod\_ikarus](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/ramrod_ikarus)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 10:09am UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/how-can-a-psyker-survive-from-havoc-40-if-fs-nerf-smite-and-inferno-staff/113741/49 "2025-10-22T10:09:53Z")
Voidblast is fine as well - infinite vet shredder grenades make a game considerably more easy. With soulblaze on crit and the guaranteed crit after 5 weak spot hits you can easily switch to melee for 5hits and then throw the next critical (voidblast) grenade to stagger the lot. Rinse and repeat ---
**Author:** ![Margeret-Dayhoff](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forums.fatsharkgames.com/margeret-dayhoff/32/92972_2.png) [@Margeret-Dayhoff](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/Margeret-Dayhoff)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 10:17am UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/how-can-a-psyker-survive-from-havoc-40-if-fs-nerf-smite-and-inferno-staff/113741/50 "2025-10-22T10:17:00Z")
The main issue with voidblast is that it interacts poorly with terrain in many places. I agree the actual attack is strong provided it doesn’t disappear into the floor, through stairs, etc. On electrokinetic I think the 2ndary needs a bit of help. Maybe another bounce, or increased range. I haven’t played voidstrike for so long I don’t have strong opinions on it, it just felt sub-par to the other staves last I recall. ---
**Author:** ![ramrod\_ikarus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9de0a6/32.png) [@ramrod\_ikarus](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/ramrod_ikarus)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 10:31am UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/how-can-a-psyker-survive-from-havoc-40-if-fs-nerf-smite-and-inferno-staff/113741/51 "2025-10-22T10:31:55Z")
On electro I agree. In my eyes it is the single target option of the staves without the high single target damage on the secondary. With its inert ~70% armor pen I would expect it to be the anti ogrin weapon except it was left in the dust after the health changes. Additionally the extreme high peril cost suggests exceptional returns which are not delivered. ---
**Author:** ![Sunmelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/57b2e6/32.png) [@Sunmelt](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/Sunmelt)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 7:31pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/how-can-a-psyker-survive-from-havoc-40-if-fs-nerf-smite-and-inferno-staff/113741/52 "2025-10-22T19:31:15Z")
That’s because he bring vent and you did not bring blaze away. He got the first stack of soul blaze and you just add up to it. ---
**Author:** ![Reginald](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forums.fatsharkgames.com/reginald/32/63707_2.png) [@Reginald](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/Reginald)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 8:05pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/how-can-a-psyker-survive-from-havoc-40-if-fs-nerf-smite-and-inferno-staff/113741/53 "2025-10-22T20:05:40Z")
If you nerf these things we can rebalance the game so that more things are viable. ---
**Author:** ![Ashrad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Ashrad](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/Ashrad)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 9:12pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/how-can-a-psyker-survive-from-havoc-40-if-fs-nerf-smite-and-inferno-staff/113741/54 "2025-10-22T21:12:40Z")
Found this. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/P7q54hNiEK0/maxresdefault.jpg "Melee Psyker is not ok - Darktide Havoc 40 True Duo (garbage%)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7q54hNiEK0) ---
**Author:** ![Sunmelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/57b2e6/32.png) [@Sunmelt](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/Sunmelt)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 4:40am UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/how-can-a-psyker-survive-from-havoc-40-if-fs-nerf-smite-and-inferno-staff/113741/55 "2025-10-23T04:40:07Z")
If you mean true duo melee psyker. I’ve played it in last havoc version. This is the video link. Even duo psykers. [追寻可能性之光！占卜剑灵能与盾火灵能双通新版本浩劫40（黄+绿词条）\_哔哩哔哩bilibili](https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1ymMdzTE64/?spm_id_from=333.1387.upload.video_card.click&vd_source=c5fa7790b07da87aacbcc514ed453f03) As what the psyker in video said, melee psyker not ok. ---
**Author:** ![Ashrad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Ashrad](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/Ashrad)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 3:26pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/how-can-a-psyker-survive-from-havoc-40-if-fs-nerf-smite-and-inferno-staff/113741/56 "2025-10-23T15:26:15Z")
Well, what stop you from doing it now then? Psyker also got a lot of buffs since then so it would be real easy. Honestly I really want to know why do people think this is fine. ‘Oh look, I just use this infinite cleave, unlimited ammo weapon to kill 7 dudes in 10 seconds. Now all other 90% of enemies we’re fighting are dead!’ Should all the classes in the game be able to do this? ---
**Author:** ![JanZamoysky](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forums.fatsharkgames.com/janzamoysky/32/87926_2.png) [@JanZamoysky](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/JanZamoysky)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 10:07pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/how-can-a-psyker-survive-from-havoc-40-if-fs-nerf-smite-and-inferno-staff/113741/57 "2025-10-23T22:07:37Z")
> [@Ashrad](#): > > ‘Oh look, I just use this infinite cleave, unlimited ammo weapon to kill 7 dudes in 10 seconds. Now all other 90% of enemies we’re fighting are dead!’ Heh, I still remember how people dismissed comments about the Purgatus and ranged Soulblaze builds back around the Patch13. SB is allowed to stack too much from different sources. Inferno’s infinite cleave which doesn’t affect damage, and “unintentional” interactions with weapon blessings like Uncanny just make the whole thing broken and way too safe to use. ---
**Author:** ![JanZamoysky](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forums.fatsharkgames.com/janzamoysky/32/87926_2.png) [@JanZamoysky](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/JanZamoysky)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2025, 10:10pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/how-can-a-psyker-survive-from-havoc-40-if-fs-nerf-smite-and-inferno-staff/113741/58 "2025-10-23T22:10:48Z")
I do find the comments under that video a bit funny, it’s a duo, those damage numbers are expected for a H40 game in that setting. If anything they should be higher as their final kill count is lower than average for a H40 game which runs for over an 1 hour. You could make an argument for why this “isn’t ok” for majority of classes for specific builds. This is due to what some of us commented on before: we asked for playstyle variety from the talent trees, but it has been delivered in a way, it allows you to stack too many good things at the same time. Playstyle variety shouldn’t mean dozens of +damage talents, and +defensive options. It was first visible when the Arbitrator class dropped, whereever you looked, especially when compared to the old talent trees, you were picking up great safety and damage options. If we are to stay in the 40k universe, the tabletop solved this with a point system. MMOs have solved this issue also in a far simpler manner. ---
**Author:** ![Sunmelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/57b2e6/32.png) [@Sunmelt](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/Sunmelt)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 1:31pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/how-can-a-psyker-survive-from-havoc-40-if-fs-nerf-smite-and-inferno-staff/113741/59 "2025-10-24T13:31:59Z")
You must be kidding, no auric game will stack elite enemies like that. Besides, few months ago, soulblaze kill can not trigger perilous combustion. But FS modify it to suit with the new coming encroaching garden modifer. If FS don’t want to remove encroaching modifer, it should be enabled. ---
**Author:** ![JanZamoysky](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forums.fatsharkgames.com/janzamoysky/32/87926_2.png) [@JanZamoysky](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/u/JanZamoysky)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 3:53pm UTC](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/how-can-a-psyker-survive-from-havoc-40-if-fs-nerf-smite-and-inferno-staff/113741/60 "2025-10-24T15:53:26Z")
> [@Sunmelt](#): > > few months ago, soulblaze kill can not trigger perilous combustion. But FS modify it to suit with the new coming encroaching garden modifer That was certainly a mistake, whatever our estimated FS game designers are willing to admit that or not. [Previous page](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/how-can-a-psyker-survive-from-havoc-40-if-fs-nerf-smite-and-inferno-staff/113741.md?page=2) [Next page](https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/how-can-a-psyker-survive-from-havoc-40-if-fs-nerf-smite-and-inferno-staff/113741.md?page=4)